mokinley



Get., 2G, 93l.

E. w. MGKINLEY 1,827,993

BURNER CONTROL Filed May '7,-- 1930 ooo o 0 O o e o 00 -21 *fr 23 @ww g /s' I6 E G /7 E s 27 /a o .u

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Patented oct. 2o, 1931 EDW'IN W. MCXINLEY, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 MEBIT WATER MATER C0. LTD.; F LOS ANGELES, GALIFORNIA BURNER Application led Hay 7,

This invention relates to a burner control, its object being to shut olf the fuel from the burner in case the pilot-light therefor should become extinguished. This control is generally used in combination with a thermostatic regulator for the fuel supply, said regulator being adapted to turn on and olf the fuel in accordance with the temperature conditions of the medium which is being heated. If the fuel supply to the burner should be cut off by the said thermostatic regulator, and the pilot-light should become extinguished, the supply of fuel would later be turned on automatically when there would be no pilot light burning to ignite it. It is the object' of the inventlon to prevent the flow of fuel to the burner under these conditions.

In this application there is shown and described a specific structure which is, at present, the preferred embodiment of the invention; but it is to be understood that the invention may take various forms and that the claims herein are not intended to be limited to the structure disclosed any farther than is made necessary by the specific terms therein employed.

In the drawin s, Fig. 1 illustrates the main and the pilot-lig t burners in side elevation and the burner control in section, portions ao'of a boiler and the thermostatic regulator being indicated; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the valve-supporting plate shown in section in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken through said plate on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2..

Whlle the invention is shown in connection with a burner for heatin water in a boiler, that is for the pur ose o disclosure only,

n it being understood t atthe burner may be eo em loyed for various purposes.

n the drawings, 4 re resents the burner,

which ma be of an ei'sired construction,

y the same in supp ied with gas or other suitable fuel t rou a supply pipe 5, said pipe being provide with'an Ordinar cut o' valve 6. A portion of .a hot-water oiler is indicated in section at 7, thev same being provided at any suitable point with an opening into which a plu 8 is screwed or otherwise secured. This p ug supports the thermocoma-20L 1930. serial no. 450,393.

stat for controlling the flow of fuel through the pipe 5 in accordance with temperature conditions within the boiler. This thermostat forms no art of the present invention, except in com ination with the lot-light control, and therefore it is deemed) unnecessary to disclose the same further than to state that it com rises two members 9 and 10 which have di erent coecients of expansionand contraction under temperature variations, and that when the temperature of the `medium being heated rises to a predetermined degree the thermostat acts to close the fuel passage in a valve member 11. When the temperature falls below the point at which the thermostat is set, this passage is again opened to admit fuel to the burner.

The supply pipe 5 is connected with a body mem'ber 12, which is shown as sup orting the burner, said member having. a c amber 13 thereinwhich communicates with the suply pipe through a passage 14 and with the urner through a similar passage in which there is supported a cage 15 for a spring 16. This spring is laced under. compression when the valve 1 is closed against its seat about the passage which leads to the burner. As shown, the valve is a ball, although it could obviously be made `in other forms if preferred. The valve is supported upon a plate 18, which is shown in detail in Fi 2 and 3. When a ball valve is employed, t e plate is provided with an elongated opening 19 within which the ball rests. The plate is supported upon an adjustable fulcrum member which, in the structure shown, is the head of a screw 20. As best shown in Fig. 3, the plate 18 is bent tranversely at the fulcrum so as to form a single line contact with the head of the screw, the bent portion being shown at 21. The screw'stem passes through an opening in the plate at this bent portion and into a threaded aperture in the ody member 12. Below the screw 20, the body member is provided with an opening which is closed by a plug 22. By removing this plug, the screw 20 may be adjusted to raise o`r lower the fulcrum.

The burner for the pilot-light is shown at 23, the same being of the Bunsen type except that the iiam'e is at an opening 24 on the side, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Gas or fuel for the pilot-light is supplied through a pipe 25 which is connected with the main supply pipe 5. As shown, it is attached to the valve body 11, although itmay be connected with the pipe 5 at any point between the cut off valve 6 and the thermostatically controlled valve in the body 11. The pipe 25 is connected to the body member 12 so as 'to communicate with a duct or passage 26 therein, said duct leading to the burner 23. The flow of fuel to the pilot-light is regulated by a needle-valve 27, the latter being threaded into the body member 12 and. having its point at the outlet ofthe duct 26. By turnlng this valve, the quantity of fuel passing to the pilot-light may be regulated, as is obvious. The needle-valve extends outwardly through a packing-gland, indicated at 28, which prevents leakage of the fuel.

The plate 18 is rocked u on its fulcrum te open or close the valve 1 by means of a thermostat, which preferably comprises a tubular member 29 screwed or otherwise attached at one of its ends tothe body member 12. This member 29 is made of a material which has a relatively high coefficient of expansion, copper or brass being suitable for this purpose. It is closed at its upper endby a cap 30 to which there is attached the upper end ofthe other thermostatic member 38. This member is shown as a rod which is screwed into the cap 430 and has its lower end bearing upon the plate 18 near the fulcrum. The rod is made of a metal which expands and contracts but little with changes of temperature. Preferably it is made of invar, the coefficient of expansion of which is practically nil.

While the pilot-light is burning, its flame is directed against the upper end of the tubular member 29 and the cap thereon, so that said member is heated. It is, therefore, normally in expanded condition, and the rod 38 attached to the cap is lifted bodily so as to permit the plate 18 to rock and lower the valve 17, thus to permit the gas or fuel to flow to the main burner 4, the spring 16 insuring that the valve will be open under these conditions. If the pilot-light should be blown out, or become extinguished for any other reason, the member 29 cools and contracts, thereby moving the rod 38 downwardly and tilting the plate 18 so as to close the valve 17 and thus cut olf the flow of fuel to the main burner 4. This condition will obtain until the pilot-light is again lighted short timethe valve 17 will open and the main burner will be lighted.

As indicated in the drawings, the plate 18 is of relatively thin sheet material which has suiiicient resiliency to permit the expansible member 29 to contract to its maximum without damage to any of the parts of the structure. That is to say, if the weather were to become Very cold and the pilot-light were to become extinguished, the member 29 would contract to such an extent as would tend to break some of the parts if provision were not made to prevent this result. This is accomplished in the structure shown simply by forming the plate 18 of resilient material. If it be found that the valve 17 does not close sufiiciently or that the pressure upon the plate 18 is excessive, the plug 22 may be removed and the screw 20 adjusted until the operation of the valve is satisfactory. By making the opening -19 in the plate elongated, the ball may roll slightly in adapting itself to the valve seat.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a main burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a valve for controlling lthe fuel passing to the burner, a spring bearing upon said valve for normally holding it in its open position, a pivoted member supporting said valve, a pilot burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a thermostat positioned to be heated by the pilot-light while it is burning, said thermostat being adapted to permit the said valve to remain open while the pilot-light is burning and to 6 be closed, and all that is required to place positively rock the pivoted member and force the valve into its closed position when the pilot-light is extinguished and the thermostat cools.

2. A device of the character described comprising a main burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a valve for controlling the fuel passing through the burner, a spring bearing upon said valve for normally holding it in its open position, a pivoted and resilient member supporting said valve, a pilot burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a thermostat positioned to be heated by the pilot-light while it is burning, said thermostat being adapted to permit the said valve to remain open while the pilot-light is burning and to positively rock the resilient V member and force the valve into its closed position against the tension of said spring when the pilot light is extinguished and the thermostat cools. i

3.v A device of the character described comprising a main burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a valve for controlling the iow of the fuel to the burner, a member fulcrumed intermediate its ends and supporting the valve2 the valve having means normally urging 1t to open position, a pilot burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a

thermostat positioned to be heated by the pilot-light while it is burning, said thermostat being adapted when thus heated to permit the valve to remain open and to rock the said member on its fulcrum when the pilotlight is extinguished and the thermostat cools, thus to move the valve into its closed position, and means for adjusting the fulcrumed member lwith respect to the thermostat.

4. A device of the character described comprising a main burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a valve for controlling the flow of the fuel to the burner, a resilient member fulcrume'd intermediate its ends and supporting the valve, a spring for normally urging the valve to its open position, a pilot burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a thermostat positioned to be heated by the pilot-light while it is burning, said thermostat being adapted when thus eated to 'permit the valve to remain o en and to rock the said resilient member on 1ts fulcrum when the pilot-light is extinguished and the thermostatcools, thus to force the valve into its closed position against the tension of the said spring, and means for adjusting the fulcrulned member with respect to the thermostat.

5. A device of the character described comprising a main burner, a valve body supporting .said burner and having a passage for the fuel, a headed screw adjustably mounted in the valve body, a plate supportedintermediate its ends upon the head of said screw, a valve supported by said (plate adjacent one end of the latter, said valve being adapted to close the passage for the fuel, a pilot burner havingmeans for supplying fuel thereto, a thermostat positioned to be heated by the pilot-light while itis burning, said thermostat having two members with different coeflicients of thermalv expansion, one of said members cont-acting with the said plate ad'- jacent its end which is opposite the said valve,

the construction being such that when the pilot-light is extinguished and the thermostat cools the plate is`rocked upon its pivot to move the valve and close the passage lead-l ing to `the main burner and when the pilotlight is burning and the thermostat is heated the plate is permitted to rock upon its pivot to permit the valve to open. 6. A devise of the character described comrising a main burner, a valve body su portmg said burner and having a passage fldr the fuel, a headed screw adjustably mounted in the valve body, a resilient plate supported intermediate its ends upon the `head of said screw, the plate having an opening therein through which the stem of the screw extends, a valve supported by said plate adjacent ono end of the latter, said valve being adapted to close the passage for the-fuel, a ilot burner having means for supplying i uel thereto,

a thermostat positioned to be heated by the pilot-light while it is burning, said thermostat having two members with different coeiiicients of thermal expansion, one of said members contacting with the said plate adjacent its end which is opposite the said valve, the construction beino such that when the pilot-light is extinguished and the thermo- 'Eli therethrough, a valve for closing said passage, a spring withinsaid passage and pressing upon said valvevto move it into its open position, and adjustable headed screw supported by said valve body, a plate fulcrumed upon the head of said screw, the valve being supported by said plate adjacent one of the ends of the latter, a pilot burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a thermo` stat positioned to be heated by the Npilotlight while it is burning, said thermostat naving a member engaging the fulcrumed plate adjacent that end of the latter which is opposite the valve, the construction being such that, when the pilot-light is burning, the valve is held open and when t-he pilot-light is extinguished and the thermostat cools the plate is rocked u on its fulcrum and the-valve is positively c osed.

8. A device of the charatcer described comprising a main burner, a valve body supporting said burner and having two fuel passages therethrough, a valve for closing the passage which leads to the main burner, a spring within said passage and pressing upon said valve to move it into its open position, an adjustable headed screw supported by said valve body, a resilient plate fulcrumed upon the head of said screw, the valve being supported by said plate adjacent one of the ends of the latter, a pilot burner to which fuel is supplied through the other assage in the valve body, a needle-valve ihr controlling the `latter passage, a thermostat positioned vto be heated by the pilot-light while it is burning, said thermostat having a, member engaging the fulcrumed plate adjacent that end of the latter which is opposite the first mentioned valve, the construction beine' suf-h that,when the pilot-light is burning the irst mentioned valve is heldlopen and when the pilot-light is extinguished and the thermostat cools the plate is rocked upon its fulcrum and the said valve is positively closed to cut off the fuel from the main burner.

9. A device of the character described comprising a main burner, a valve body supporting said burner and having two fuel passages ino therethrough, a ball-valve for closing the passage which leads to the main burner, a spring within the latter passage for pressing upon said ball-valve to move it into its open position, an adjustable headed screw supported by said valve body, a plate fulcrumed upon the head of said screw, said plate having an opening through which the stem of the screw extends and an opening adjacent one of its ends within which the said ball-valve is supported, a pilot burner to which fuel is supplied through the other passage in the valve body, a valve for controlling the latter passage, a thermostat positioned to be heated by the pilot-light While it is burning, said thermostat having a member engaging the fulcrumed plate adjacent that end of the latter which is opposite the ball valve, the construction being such that when the pilotlight is extinguished and the thermostat cooled, the plate is rocked uponits fulorum and the said ball valve is positively closed to cut off the fuel from the main burner and,

while the pilot-light is burning, the ful' crumed plate is permitted to rock to open the ball-valve.

l0. A device of the character described comprising a main burner, a valve body supporting said burner and having two fuel passages therethrough, a ball-valve for closing the passage which leads to the main burner, a spring within said passage for pressing upon said ball-valve to move it into its open position, an adjustable headed screw supported by said valve body, the valve body having an' opening through which access may be had to said screw, a plug for closing said opening, a resilient plate fulcrumed upon the head of said screw, said plate having an opening through which the stem of the screw extends and an opening adjacent one of its ends within which the said balll valve is supported, a pilot burner to which (lll fuel is supplied through the other passage in the valve body, a needle-valve for controlling the latter passage, a thermostat positloned to be heated by the pilot-light while it 1s burnlng, said thermostat having a member engaging the fulorum plate adjacent that end of the latter which is opposite the ballvalve, the construction being such that, when the pilot-light is extinguished and .the thermostat cooled, the plate is rocked upon its fulcrum and the said ball-valve is lpositively closed to cut oli' the fuel from the main burner and, while the pilot-light is burning, the fulcrumed plate is permitted to rock to open the ball-valve.

11. A device of the character described comprising a main burner having means for supplymg fuel thereto, a ball serving as a valve for controlling the fuel passing to the burner, a pivoted member carrying said ball and having an elongated opening therein itself toits seat, a pilot burner adjacent-the main burner, means for supplying fuel to the pilot burner, a thermostat having an element positioned to be heated and expanded by the pilot light to permit the pivoted member to rock and the said ball to move away from its seat, said element cooling and contracting when the pilot light is extinguished, and means operated by the thermostat when said element contracts for rocking said pivoted member and closing said ball against its seat.

12. A device of the character described comprising a main burner having means for supplying fuel thereto, a ball -serving as a valve for controlling the fuel passing to the burner, a pivoted member carrying said ball and having an elongated opening therein within which the ball may roll in adapating itself to its seat, an adjustable fulcrum upon which said member is pivoted, a pilot burner adjacent the main burner, means for supplying fuel to the pilot burner, a thermostat having an element positioned as to be heated and expanded by the pilot light to rmit the pivoted member to rock and the sald ball to move away from its seat, said element cooling and contracting when the pilot light is extinguished, and means operated by the thermostat when said element contracts for rocking said pivoted member and closing said EnwiN w. MQKINLEY.

within which the ball may roll in adapting 

